La Rochelle hung on for a narrow win over Brive, their first of the season after losses to Clermont and Racing.

The game was very even early on with Gaëtan Germain and Zack Holmes kicking two penalties apiece to make it 6-6 after 20 minutes.

Germain added a third penalty soon after but La Rochelle reacted with the first try of the game. After Benito Masilevu failed to collect a high ball, Gabriel Lacroix collected and two passes later Pierre Aguillon was over.

Holmes converted to make it 13-9, before adding another penalty after half an hour to make it a seven-point lead at the break.

Germain slotted his fourth penalty early in the second half, but after Hugues Briatte had been yellow-carded, La Rochelle scored their second try, Holmes crossing from close range after good work from the pack.

The conversion was missed however, and Brive came back with two more penalties from Germain to trail by just three points in the closing stages.

Agen picked up their first win since their return to the Top 14 as they comfortably saw off an ill-disciplined Racing side.

It was a first loss of the season for the Parisians, who had Virgile Lacombe sent off late on for a punch.

Racing had actually started the better, scoring a first try after just three minutes through Maxime Machenaud. The scrum-half benefited from a good rolling maul from his forwards to cross, and converted his own try to make it 7-0.

Agen came back with two penalties from Burton Francis, and it was the South African who gave them the lead on 20 minutes following a huge break by Rémy Vaquin.

With the conversion and another Francis penalty, Agen led 13-7 but Racing hit back with a penalty from Machenaud.

Mathieu Lamoulie then ran in the second Agen try after being set up by Francis, with Machenaud adding his second penalty soon after.

Francis completed his full house with a drop goal on the stroke of half-time, adding a penalty early in the second half to make it 21-13 to the home side.

Sean Robinson and Lionel Mazars were then sin-binned before Racing lost a second player, Juandre Kruger penalised for taking out his counterpart in a lineout.

Agen took advantage with another penalty from Francis before Alexis Balès was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Lacombe. The hooker reacted with a punch and was given his marching orders, however Racing managed their second try in the closing stages through Andreu.

Francis completed a fine afternoon with a final penalty though, to seal the win for the home side.